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IUDs pose dangers for many years

Updated:
10/05/2012 09:20:03 AM EDT

Editor:

In a recent Article a local obstetrician-gynecologist mentioned intrauterine birth-control devices.

In her description of Paragard, she failed to mention that it works by irritating the lining of the uterus and obstructing sperm transport. However, when breakthrough ovulation and conception occur with an IUD in place, the IUD can prevent implantation or destroy the new human embryo by copper poisoning or attacks from the body's immune system, thus causing an abortion, according to the Physician's Desk Reference.

Some of the side effects include uterine perforation, which may lead to a hysterectomy, and infection, including pelvic or tubo-ovarian abcess. Use of all IUDs has been associated with an increased incidence of pelvic inflammatory disease and of ectopic pregnancy, again according to the Physician's Desk Reference.

An ectopic pregnancy is one in which the human embryo implants n a location other than the mother's uterus, usually in the Fallopian tube. According to prominent researchers, women who had used an IUD for three or more years were more than twice as likely to have a tubal pregnancy as women who had never used an IUD.

Among these long-term users of IUDs, risk of ectopic pregnancy remained elevated for many years after the device was removed. Ectopic pregnancy is one of the leading causes of maternal death in the United States.